Starling forces

Starling forces describe the balance of pressures that determine fluid movement between blood vessels and surrounding tissues. They involve two main pressures: hydrostatic pressure, pushing fluid out of vessels, and osmotic pressure, pulling fluid back in due to proteins like albumin. At the arteriole end of capillaries, hydrostatic pressure is higher, pushing fluid into tissues. At the venule end, osmotic pressure prevails, drawing fluid back into the blood. The net result of these forces controls fluid exchange, helping tissues receive nutrients and remove waste, and maintaining proper blood volume and pressure.